POLICE POLICYMAKING - THE STRUCTURING OF DISCRETION IN THE USE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES - FINAL REPORT - PHASE 1

• NCJ Number: 42075
• Author(s): E B0LT; F COLEMAN; E CONNOLLY; J DALEY; A DINATALE; J DOYLE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 75 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75NI-99-0078
• Corporate Author: Boston Police Dept; Boston University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

POLICYMAKING QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE EXERCISE OF POLICE DISCRETION ARE EXAMINED. ISSUES ADDRESSED INCLUDE MODEL GUIDELINES, INVOLVEMENT OF POLICE PERSONNEL, INCENTIVES TO STIMULATE COMPLIANCE, AND EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.

Abstract

THIS STUDY, PERFORMED JOINTLY BY THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, SET OUT TO EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: (1) THE ADEQUACY OF THE MODEL RULES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PREPARED BY ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY IN RELATION TO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE PROBLEMS AND POLICYMAKING NEEDS OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT; (2) THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVISING A PROCESS TO EFFECTIVELY INVOLVE POLICE PERSONNEL OF ALL RANKS IN POLICYMAKING; (3) THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POSITIVE INCENTIVES TO STIMULATE COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES; AND (4) THE FEASIBILITY OF MEASURING THE EFFECT OF POLICIES ON THE BEHAVIOR OF POLICE OFFICERS. A DISCUSSION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROCESS TO IDENTIFY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE POLICY NEEDS OF POLICE AGENCIES IS PRESENTED, FOLLOWED BY THE APPLICATION OF THE PROCESS TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDS WITHIN THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. POLICIES WERE DEVELOPED AND APPLIED, AND EVALUATION STRATEGIES WERE DESIGNED AND USED. EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN OF DRAFT AND FINAL VERSIONS OF THE POLICIES, AND A SUMMARY OF EVALUATION RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS IS PRESENTED. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT (1) THE MODEL POLICIES DEVELOPED BY ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ARE GENERALLY RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS; (2) A VARIETY OF RESEARCH TECHNIQUES MUST BE UTILIZED TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL PROBLEMS AND NEEDS FOR POLICYMAKING PURPOSES; (3) IT IS POSSIBLE AND DESIRABLE TO INVOLVE PERSONNEL OF ALL RANKS IN IDENTIFYING THE AREAS IN GREATEST NEED OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IN FORMULATING THE POLICIES THEMSELVES; AND (4) EFFECTIVE EVALUATION STRATEGIES CAN BE DEVELOPED TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF SOME GUIDELINES IN STRUCTURING DISCRETION. OTHER CONCLUSIONS, ASSUMPTIONS, AND FUTURE PLANS ARE ALSO PRESENTED.